Cortlandville, Virgil Fire Departments Receive Federal Funding

Two Cortland County fire departments are receiving a combined $37,668.56 in federal funding to support equipment, training and other needs for local firefighters.

The Cortlandville Fire District was awarded $19,573.33, while the Virgil Fire Department, Inc. received $18,095.23. Both grants were awarded through the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) program.

U.S. Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer and U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand announced the grants as part of more than $13.2 million in federal funding being distributed to dozens of fire departments across Upstate New York.

The AFG program provides funding to help fire departments obtain equipment, protective gear, training and other resources for firefighters and emergency personnel.

“Every day, our first responders risk everything to keep families safe and protect communities across Upstate New York,” Schumer said in announcing the funding. He said the federal investments will provide firefighters with resources to help them stay safe and respond to emergencies.

Gillibrand said firefighters need adequate equipment and personnel to respond quickly to emergencies.

“We owe it to them to ensure that they have the resources and personnel they need to respond to emergencies as quickly as possible,” Gillibrand said.

For the Cortlandville Fire District, the federal funding will go toward the purchase of new fire hose.

Cortlandville Fire Chief Mike Biviano told X101 News the department plans to purchase approximately 2,600 feet of hose in various lengths and diameters. The purchase will include 5-inch supply lines, as well as 2-inch to 2.5-inch attack hose used by firefighters to deliver water directly to fires.

Biviano said the department expects to receive the new hose within the next few months.

The Cortlandville award is a matching grant, but Biviano said the department’s required contribution will be less than $1,000, allowing the department to make a significant equipment investment with a relatively small local contribution.

The grants are part of FEMA’s AFG and Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) programs. According to Schumer’s office, the programs provide competitive grants to fire departments and volunteer firefighter organizations, with awards based on program priorities and demonstrated financial need.

Schumer has been a longtime supporter of the programs and in 2024 helped lead passage of the bipartisan Fire Grants and Safety Act, which extended funding for AFG and SAFER through fiscal year 2030.

For Cortlandville and Virgil, the newly announced awards will provide additional federal resources to local departments as they work to maintain the equipment and training needed to protect residents and respond to emergencies.

The two Cortland County awards represent a portion of the more than $13.2 million being distributed to fire departments throughout Upstate New York.